Satsun Photography: Rooting DC 20011: A Field of Dreams

Rooting DC, which offered a variety of interactive workshops on everything from schoolyard and youth gardening to gardening basics, concluded their 4th annual free urban gardening forum this past weekend.

"Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Margaret Mead

Before i get ahead of myself - when i say Rooting DC what/who i really mean is the dynamic duo: Bea Trickett and Katie Rehwaldt.

Every year for the past 4 years these 2 (and countless volunteers) work exhaustively to pull off what is quickly becoming an invaluable DC resource.

Whether being the liaison that brought Rooting DC to Coolidge High School,

or, 'the coffee whisperer', as one volunteer was deemed - she kept everyone properly caffeinated throughout the daylong event,

it seemed the volunteers felt a sense of pride at what was being accomplished and responded accordingly.

The opening speaker set the tone for the day delivering a speech that intelligently connected links between local community gardening, national nutritional education and global food distribution. Talk about galvanizing.....zing!

Gordon Clark Montgomery Victory Gardens

Speakers donated their time,

presented resources,

exchanged ideas - some were even interviewed.

Juliette G. Tahar, vegetarian chef extraordinaire, was one of my favorite of the day. The connection she made between food and it's vitality was thought-provoking, her demonstration cooking class super informative and well, the finished product was positively inspiring. Yum! It is because of her i now have a vegetable drawer full of bok choy, mustards greens and kale and, know how to cut and cook them.

A little something for everyone -

community members, experts, students,

professionals, businesses came together.

Rooting DC provided a field where dreams were shared, idea planted and in some cases (such as mine) roots developed - you should have seen me in the grocery store - Ms. Tahar would have been sooooo proud. As should you ladies - job well done!